Adjustable position tray support arms for merchandising rack



March 24, 1970 E. .1 OLIVER 3,502,225

ADJUSTABLE POSITION TRAY SUPPORT ARMS FOR MERCHANDISINQ RACK- Filed Nov. 14, 1966 INVENTOR. EARL d. OLIVER ATTORNEYS United States Patent U.S. Cl. 211-133 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A wire merchandising rack is described which has trays secured to vertical posts in such a manner that the location of the trays may be vertically adjusted with respect to the posts and yet a rigid securance of the trays to the posts at any chosen vertical location is assured. The rack includes a support frame having a pair of upright support posts between which the trays are mounted. The mounting means for each of the trays comprises a pair of resilient arms, one on each of the posts and each of which has portions extending on opposite sides of its associated post for securance to the end of a tray. Each resilient arm is secured to its post by means of an element of the arm defining an eye projecting inwardly from a transverse edge of the arm which is in engagement with the post. The eye is traversed by the post, and the element defining the same engages the post on the opposite side thereof from that engaged by the transverse edge of the arm. When the end of a tray is secured to the arm, the tray rotates the arm to cause a binding eng agcment of the post by the element defining the eye and 1 he aforementioned transverse edge so that the arm is locked in position on the post, but when a tray is not engaged with the arm, the arm may be slid vertically along the post to change its vertical location with respect thereto.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending patent application, Ser. No. 541,304, filed Apr. 8, 1966 for Rack for Merchandising and the Like, now US. Patent No. 3,387,855.

This invention relates to merchandising racks of the type having a plurality of trays secured in tiered relationship to a frame, and is more particularly directed to tray support arms for such a rack which are adjustable vertically of the frame to provide variable spacing between the trays.

A very satisfactory merchandising rack is disclosed in my above mentioned Patent 3,387,855. Briefly, such rack includes a plurality of tiered trays removably secured in a support frame with a unique positive locking action that insures extreme sturdiness and stability of securance. The locking action is derived from a cooperating engagement between support arms oppositely transversely projecting from longitudinally spaced posts of the frame and opposite end portions of the trays. Each arm is resilient and has inwardly turned reentrant flanges at its ends. Each tray is provided with downwardly turned tabs at its opposite ends engaging internal surfaces of the flanges of corresponding pairs of support arms carried by the respective posts. The tray tabs are longitudinally spaced by a distance slightly less than that between the flanges of the corresponding pair of support arms whereby the arms are flexed when the tabs engage the flanges to provide a positive locking action.

With racks of the type outlined above, the support arms 3,502,225 Patented Mar. 24, 1970 have been fixedly secured to the posts of the frame. Although diiferent spacings between trays is obtainable by interchangeable employment of the trays in dilferent frames having different spacings between the support arms, such manner of accommodating different height objects to be merchandised, etc., is somewhat disadvantageous. The large number of different frames that must be made available by the manufacturer and stocked by the consumer to satisfy the great variety of merchandising requirements that may be encountered is prohibitive. Advantages are, of course, to be gained by the provision of a frame wherein the tray support arms are vertically adjustable such that a single frame can be arranged to satisfy any merchandising requirement.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved merchandising rack having trays releasably secured in tiered relationship to support arms of a frame that are adjustably positionable vertically of the frame to enable the trays to accommodate different height objects.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a rack of the class described wherein the trays are releasably securable to the support arms with a positive locking action despite the adjustability of the arms vertically of the frame.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a merchandising rack of the class described wherein the support arms are readily manipulable vertically of the frame and may be locked in position with a positive binding action upon engagement of a tray therewith.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an adjustable support arm arrangement of the class described which is relatively simple and economical in construction.

In accomplishing the foregoing objects, the rack of the invention includes a support frame having at least one upright support post and at least one resilient arm secured to the post with portions of the arm projecting from opposite sides of the post. At least one tray is provided having spaced apart tab portions at one of its ends which engage within reentrant flanges defined by the resilient arm on opposite sides of the posts in such a manner that when the tab portions and flanges are engaged, the end of the tray is supported. The means for securing the arm to the post includes an eye defining element which projects inwardly from the arm and is spaced from a transverse edge of the arm which is in engagement with the post. This eye is tranversed by the post with the element defining the same engaging the post on the side thereof opposite from that which is engaged by the transverse edge of the arm. With this arrangement, a binding action secures the arm to the post when the tray is mounted on the arm. However, whenever the tray is removed from the arm, the arm can be easily slid along the post to any desired vertical location.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is to be understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the said drawing and description may be adopted within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims.

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a merchandising rack having vertically adjustable tray support arms in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of a support arm with a tray in cooperative engagement therewith to lock the arm in position.

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but of only the arm as positioned for movement vertically of the frame.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of an arm and tray.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view of a modified support arm of the invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a rack 11 including a frame 12 having a plurality of trays 13 mounted in tiered relationship thereon. The frame is formed by an upright support post 14 (only one shown in FIGURE 1) which is centrally secured to a transverse base member 17 having downwardly turned legs 18 at its opposite ends to which casters 19 are secured in order that the frame be wheelable. It is to be appreciated that in most instances at least two support posts 14 will be provided with one at each end of the trays. However, in some arrangements only one post need be provided. That is, if the post is suitably supported, the trays can project outward therefrom in cantilever fashion.

A plurality of tray supporting arms 21 are secured to each post 14 at vertically spaced positions thereof with each arm arranged to engage a cooperating portion of one of the trays with a positive locking action. In this regard, each arm is secured at its center transversely to the post and has inwardly turned reentrant flanges 22 at its opposite ends. The arm is resilient such that the laterally projecting portions thereof on opposite sides of the post may be flexed. Each arm further includes stop means 23 at its lower edge projecting inwardly from the post.

Each tray 13 is of open topped rectangular configuration. Each tray is provided with downwardly turned substantially rigid tab portions 24 at its opposite ends adapted to be received in the slots 26 defined between the flanges 22 and arm 21 and to engage the internal surfaces of the flanges. Upon urging the tab portions downwardly into the slots, the tab portions engage the stop means 23. The longitudinal distance between the tab portions at the opposite ends of a tray is slightly less than the longitudinal distance between the flanges 22 of the arms 21 at the opposite ends of the frame. Consequently, when the tab portions are engaged with the flanges, the oppositely projecting portions of the arms are flexed inwardly. Longitudinally outwardly directed forces are exerted on the tabs which establish a positive locking action for stably and sturdily holding the tray in position.

The trays 13 are preferably of articulate rod construction, each tray including a peripheral rod element 27 having parallel spaced longitudinal side portions 28 respectively terminating at their opposite ends in downwardly turned vertical portions 29, in turn interconnected by transverse portions 31. The transverse portions are provided with depressions 32 to accommodate the posts 14. In addition, a plurality of rods 33 having upwardly turned ends 34 are transversely disposed in longitudinally spaced relation between the side portions 28 with their ends secured thereto. Longitudinal rods 36 are secured to the upwardly turned ends 34 of the rods 33 at positions downwardly spaced from side portions 28. The rods 36 terminate short of the vertical portions 29, and a central longitudinal rod 37 extends between the depressions 32 and is secured to the transverse rods 33. The vertical portions 29 and transverse portions 31 of the peripheral rod element 27 define the previously mentioned downwardly turned tabs 24 at the opposite ends of the tray for engaging the flanges .22.

The tray support arms 21 are likewise preferably of articulate peripherally framed rod construction. In basic respects, each arm is formed of rods to have parallel spaced upper and lower rod portions 38, 39 inwardly arcuately turned at their opposite ends and interconnected by vertical rod portions 41 extending right-angularly therebetween to define the flanges 22.

T o the extent thus far described, the rack 11 formed by the frame 12 and trays 13 is generally similar to that described in my previously referenced copending application Ser. No. 541,304 now Patent No. 3,387,855. However, in the rack disclosed therein, the tray support arms are fixedly secured to the posts of the frame, and there is thus no adjustability of the vertical positions of the trays in the frame to accommodate objects of different heights. In accordance with the particularly salient aspects of the present invention, the arms 21 are so arranged that they may be readily manually adjusted in their vertical positions on the posts 14, while the positive locking action of the referenced copending application in the securance of the trays to the arms is yet retained. More particularly, the upper rod portion 38 of each arm is continuous, while the lower rod portion 39 terminates inwardly on opposite sides of the post 14 to define a gap 42 between the inner ends of the lower rod portion. A pair of preferably L- shaped rod elements 43 are secured between the inner ends of the lower rod portion and the continuous upper rod portion 38 in right-angular bridging relation thereto. The lower ends of the rod elements project right-angularly inward from the arm to define the stop means 23. Each arm thus includes spaced-apart rectangular peripherally framed wings interconnected at their upper edges by the central region of the upper rod portion 38. Each arm is completed by an arcuate substantially 'U-shaped element 44 extending right-angularly inward from elements 43 in bridging relation thereto in closely spaced subjacent relationship to the upper rod portion 38. The U-shaped element 44 in combination with the upper rod portion 38 and intervening portions of elements 43 define an eye 46 for traversal by the post 14.

In the operation of the arms 21, same are placed on the posts 14 with the eyes 46 traversed by the posts. With each arm pivoted slightly inwardly and upwardly relative to the pivot point defined between the upper rod portion 38 and post, as illustrated in FIGURE 3, the arm is manually slidable along the post to any desired vertical position thereon.

Desirably, the gap 42 between L-shaped rod elements 43 is of a width slightly less than the diameter of the post 14. After the arm is slid to a desired vertical position, it will tend to pivot somewhat by its own weight in a direction which will frictionally engage the rod elements 43 with the post. This frictional engagement will hold the arm in the desired position on the post and facilitate assembly of the member thereon. To lock the arm in the desired vertical position with a positive locking action, the arm is pivoted outwardly and downwardly to position the element 44 in a horizontal plane, as shown in FIGURE 4. This causes the element 44 and rod portion 38 to tightly bind against the post and positively lock the arm in position thereon. The arm is automatically retained in the above noted binding position upon engagement of the tab portions 24 at the opposite ends of a tray 13 with the flanges 22 of a corresponding pair of arms carried on the respective posts 14. In this regard, the wing portions of each arm on opposite sides of a post are flexed inwardly, as previously explained, upon engagement of the tab portions of the tray with the flanges of the arm. This flexing of the wing portions of each arm establishes a positive locking action between the tray and arm. Of more importance, to the ends of the present invention, the flexing of the Wing portions establishes a moment about the pivot point between the rod portion 38 and post 14 tending to force the arm into the previously noted tight binding position. This is due to the inner ends of lower rod portion 39 being rigidly secured to upper rod portion 38 by means of elements 43. When the ends of the upper rod potion on opposite sides of the post are flexed inwardly, forces are exerted on the inner ends 'of the lower rod portion which urge same outwardly. The entire arm thus tends to pivot downwardly and outwardly about the pivot point between rod portion 38 and post 14 to position element 44 in a horizontal plane and tightly bind this element and rod portion 38 upon the post. The binding action is enhanced by the weight of the tray 13 acting upon the stop means 23, an additional moment being thereby established which tends to force the arm downwardly and outwardly with respect to the previously mentioned pivot point.

FIGURE depicts a modification of the structure of the arms 21 which permits the vertical adjustment of the arms relative to the post. More particularly, in this embodiment the ends of the rod elements 43 are integrally interconnected with a U-shaped portion 46 to increase the rigidity of the arm structure.

What is claimed is:

1. In a rack including a support frame having two spaced apart upright support posts, at least one resilient arm secured to each of said posts with portions oppositely transversely projecting therefrom having inwardly turned reentrant flanges at their ends, at least one edge of said resilient arm transverse of said post frictionally engaging said post, and a tray having downwardly turned tab portions at its ends releasably engaging internal surfaces of the flanges of opposite arms carried by said spaced apart posts, the improvement comprising means for releasably securing each of said arms to a post including an element projecting inwardly from said arm defining an eye adjacent said transverse edge and engaging the post with which said arm is associated, said eye traversed by said post with said eye element engaging same on the opposite side of said post from that engaged by said edge of said arm, said tab portions on said ends of said tray being longitudinally spaced from each other by a distance slightly less than the distance between the flanges of the corresponding oppositely transversely projecting arm portions whereby said arm portions are flexed inwardly when said tab portions engage said flanges to provide a positive locking action.

2. In a rack including a support frame having at least one upright support post, at least one resilient arm secured to said post with wing portions oppositely transversely projecting therefrom having inwardly turned reentrant flanges at their ends, at least one edge of said resilient arm transverse of said post engaging said post, and at least one tray having a downwardly turned tab portion at one of its ends engaging internal surfaces of said flanges of said arm carried by said post, the improvement comprising securing means including an element secured to and projecting inwardly from said arm defining an eye adjacent said transverse edge engaging said post, said eye traversed by said post with said element frictionally engaging said post on the opposite side of said post from that engaged by said edge of said arm, said wing portions interconnected at their upper edges by a continuous rod, said wing portions having a central gap between the bottoms thereof, said element being arcuate and projecting right-angularly inward from said wing portions in bridging relation to said gap.

3. The combination of claim 2, further defined by said Wing portions having stop means projecting inwardly from the lower edges thereof on opposite sides of said gap.

4. The combination of claim 2 further defined by said central gap having a width slightly less than the diameter of said post.

5. A rack comprising a frame including a pair of longitudinally spaced upright posts, a plurality of support arms secured to each post, each arm including a continuous upper rod portion and a parallel lower rod portion having spaced inner ends, said upper and lower rod portions inwardly turned at their outer ends and interconnected by vertical rod portions to define reentrant flanges, each arm including a pair of L-shaped members secured between the inner ends of said lower rod portion and said upper rod portion in right angular bridging relationship, said L-shaped members having inwardly projecting lower ends, each arm including an arcuate substantially U- shaped element extending right-angularly inward from said L-shaped members in bridging relation thereto in closely spaced subjacent relation to said upper rod portion, said U-shaped element and said upper rod portion of each arm engaging one of said posts on opposite sides thereof, and a plurality of trays each having downwardly turned tab portions at their opposite ends engaging internal surfaces of said flanges of a corresponding pair of said arms respectively secured to said posts, said tab portions of each tray longitudinally spaced by a distance slightly less than that of said flanges of said corresponding pair of said arms, said tab portions engaging said inwardly projecting lower ends of said L-shaped members.

6. A rack according to claim 5, further defined by each of said trays comprising a peripheral rod element having parallel spaced longitudinal side portions respectively terminating at their opposite ends in downwardly turned vertical portions interconnected by transverse portions having central depressions, said vertical portions and transverse portions of said peripheral rod element defining said tabs, a plurality of transverse rods having upwardly turned ends disposed in longitudinally spaced relation between said longitudinal side portions with their ends secured thereto, first and second longitudinal rods secured to the upwardly turned ends of said transverse rods in downwardly spaced relation to said longitudinal side portions, said first and second longitudinal rods terminating short of said vertical portions of said peripheral rod element, and a third longitudinal rod extending between said depressions and secured to said transverse rods.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,254,770 9/1941 Bitney l08--111 298,791 5/1884 Spooner 248221 X 2,096,380 10/ 1937 Reicks 248221 X 2,724,511 11/1955 Morgan 211181 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,101,910 4/1955 France.

ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner ABRAHAM FRANKEL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

